How to Build a Strong Connection with Your Baby – Ep 181

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The first days, weeks, and months after a baby is born are filled with so many emotions—joy, exhaustion, love, and sometimes, even uncertainty. I’ve been right there, too, and felt all of them. But in those early moments, something incredibly powerful is happening beneath the surface: your baby is learning how to trust the world through you. It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. So we had to learn more about this and the significance of developing a strong bond with our babies.

In this episode of Chick Chat, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie, a neonatologist, pediatrician, and AAP spokesperson, all about the science and soul of bonding with your baby and why it’s critical for our babies’ development.

Who is Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie?

Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie is an associate professor of pediatrics and a practicing clinical neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She’s a trusted voice for parents as a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and co-host of their flagship podcast, “Pediatrics On Call.” With three kids of her own and years of expertise in newborn medicine, Dr. Joanna bridges the worlds of evidence-based research and real-life parenting in a way that’s truly empowering.

What Did We Discuss?

In this episode, Dr. Joanna and I cover:

• Dr. Joanna’s background and how she became passionate about the emotional bond between parent and baby
• What bonding really means and why it matters so much
• What happens when bonding is delayed or doesn’t come easily
• How birth choices (like C-sections, skin-to-skin, or delayed cord clamping) affect bonding
• Practical ways to build an emotional connection even if it doesn’t feel instant
• Small steps parents can take every day to strengthen attachment
• Common mistakes that unknowingly interfere with bonding
• How routines like feeding, sleeping, and responding to cries shape emotional security
• What the latest science tells us about attachment and long-term child development
• Sleep training, co-sleeping, and how to decide what works for your family
• Dr. Joanna’s biggest takeaway for new and expecting parents

Final Thoughts

Whether bonding feels natural or takes more time, the good news that we heard from Dr. Joanna is that attachment isn’t a one-time moment. It’s a relationship that grows with daily care, presence, and love. Dr. Joanna reminds us that small acts of responsiveness and warmth go a long way in shaping your baby’s sense of safety and confidence. It’s also reassuring hearing from an experienced baby doctor that you don’t have to be perfect as a parent; you just have to keep showing up.

We’re so grateful to Dr. Joanna for joining us and sharing her expertise and heart with our listeners. You can follow her work through the American Academy of Pediatrics, tune in to her podcast, Pediatrics On Call, and get her book The Baby Bonding Book to learn more. Until next time, remember—your presence and love matter more than anything. You are exactly what your baby needs.

Dr. Joanna’s Resources

We hope you found this episode helpful. If you did and enjoyed it, please subscribe to our podcast, Chick Chat, and leave us an honest review. Links below!